Ladies Crash Out Of Cup

The Ladies suffered only their second defeat of the season as they went down to FA Premier League side Blackburn Rovers LFC on Saturday.

Currently playing their football two divisions above Pool, Rovers are the current holders of the cup and are looking not only to retain the trophy but to win the Lancashire Cup for the ninth time in ten seasons.

The Seasiders travelled to Radcliffe Borough with a much depleted side due to illness and holidays.

A hard working first half performance by Pool restricted Rovers to a 2-0 advantage at the interval before they eventually ran out 7-0 winners.

The opening 10 minutes saw both teams having opportunities with Steph Findlay saving shots from England prospects Danielle Whitham and Beth Donoghue, and Gemma Jackson in the home goal gathering in front of the advancing Danni Cross.

Cross then tested Jackson again, forcing her to spill the effort but unfortunately for Pool nobody was there to follow it in.

The home side started to dominate with Jones at the heart of the Pool defence called upon to deal with a shot initially spilled by Findlay.

Having dealt with the pressure, Pool had a couple of opportunities themselves with a Cross ball being gathered and an Oatley effort from a Jenny McGill pass going wide.

On 25 minutes the deadlock was broken. Keeleigh Savage’s free-kick on the edge of the area was put beyond her own keeper by Jones as she attempted to clear.

Charlotte Gill then looked to get the equaliser with a shot from a free-kick but her effort went narrowly over the bar.

Rovers’ captain Hannah Forster then produced a shot on target with a subsequent effort well saved by Findlay.

Charlotte Banner then headed a cross clear of danger and Savage tested Findlay with a couple of efforts that she dealt with well.

Hannah Forster then doubled the lead with a long range shot and that was the final action of the first-half.

After the interval Donoghue grabbed a brace; the first a fine finish after she beat the offside trap and the second another neat goal where she latched onto a ball over the Pool defence.

Substitute Katie Anderton got the fifth before Nicole Forster returned to the field of play following an injury to finish a Gail Pennington cross to make it 6-0.

The seventh and final goal for Blackburn was another own goal as Banner diverted the ball past the helpless Findlay.

In spite of Oatley, Barlow and Emma Ambrose all having efforts before the whistle Pool were unable to grab a consolation goal as Rovers progressed to the next round.